Rundlett Middle School
144 South Street, Concord, NH 03301
Jim McCullum, Principal Dave Bartlett, Assistant Principal Heather Barker, Assistant Principal
June 22, 2017
Dear Cluster 6-3 Students and Families,
Your Cluster 6-3 teachers would like to extend a warm welcome to Rundlett Middle School!
As you enter Middle School, there are a lot of things that you must be thinking about and perhaps, worried or nervous about. Three of the main things that new sixth graders (and their parents!) are often nervous about at the beginning of the year are:
1. the size of the building
2. the scary but oh, so exciting LOCKERS
3. meeting new friends and teachers.
We would like to ease your mind about these things. During the first few days of school we will spend time getting to know our lockers and the building, each other, and learning routines and procedures. Your core teachers and related teachers will not count you tardy during the first few days of school to give you the chance to grow accustomed to the building.
Lockers, sweet lockers! Your locker will be right outside the door of your homeroom class. We will give you plenty of time to practice your combination, and again, your teachers will not count you tardy during the first few days of school to allow you time to get a handle on your grumpy lock!
Finally, meeting new friends and teachers! Rundlett Middle School is a wonderful place to be a middle schooler! Our cluster system here at RMS allows you to have all of your classes with a relatively small group of peers, whom you will come to know very well during the coming year. Cluster 6-3 has two core teachers, Mrs. LaPlante (Room 204- Math and Science) and Mr. Huckins (Room 202- Language Arts and Social Studies), and approximately 50 students. You will have your related arts classes, like art, music, gym, and health with a mixed group of 6th graders.
The first year at RMS is usually one filled with the fondest memories. We know that you will love it here. There are many opportunities for you to pursue your individual interests. Our curriculum is engaging and challenging and we will be here to guide and support you. We are very excited about the coming year and most importantly, getting to know you. Building a strong, positive learning community is very important to us.
Here is what you will be learning this year:
Language Arts
In language arts this year, students will develop skills to strengthen both their reading and writing. The goal is to produce confident writers and lifelong readers. Our curriculum is aligned with the Common Core State Standards. Major units of study include: Growing Up Unit, Multicultural Unit, Greek Mythology, Narrative Writing, Informational Writing, and Argument Writing.
Math
We will be using the EngageNY math program this year. The sixth grade curriculum will include ratios and unit rates, arithmetic operations including division by a fraction, rational numbers, expressions and equations, area, surface area, and volume problems, and statistics. Students will also focus on fluency of all decimal operations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Students will see connections between the math they already know and new math ideas.
Science
Sixth grade students will increase their knowledge of life, earth/space, and physical science, while revisiting and expanding upon certain themes to gain a better understanding of the world in which we live. Major units of study include: STEM, Ecology and Ecosystems, Rocks and Minerals, Force and Motion, Matter, and Introduction to Weather and Climate.
Social Studies
In social studies, we will travel back to ancient civilizations. Students will develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did and why they declined. Students will analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link between the contemporary and ancient worlds. The major units of study include: Foundations of Civilizations, Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome and Greek Civilization.
Extra help is available to students who need it. Mrs. LaPlante is available several mornings a week from 7:15-8:15 to meet with students. Mrs. LaPlante and Mr. Huckins are often available to work with students after school by appointment. A late bus is available to students at 4:30 every day except Thursdays.
21C is a before and after school program that offers exciting clubs, activities, and homework help to students. 21C offers a late bus for students who are enrolled. Please check out their website at http://rms.sau8.org/student_life/21_c for more information.
Mr. Huckins and Mrs. LaPlante have a webpage where homework assignments are posted. Please make sure to check the Rundlett Middle School website and click on About Our School. Then click on Clusters. Finally, click on Cluster 6-3. Our cluster webpage will help you if you have forgotten what the homework is. If you have trouble with an assignment or have a question, Mr. Huckins and Mrs. LaPlante regularly check their email. Please email them your questions.
Attached to this letter you will find a list of supplies that we would like you to have for your various classes. We will be setting up binders in class during the first week of school to prepare you for an organized start to middle school.
If you would like to communicate with one of your teachers over the summer weeks before school starts, please feel free to write to Mrs. LaPlante at or Mr. Huckins at
Sincerely,
Mrs. LaPlante and Mr. Huckins
Cluster 6-3 Supplies List
· 4 simple 3-ring binders (No zippers, etc) (1 for each class- different colors for each class is helpful) You will need
o 2- 1 ½ “ binders for Math and Science
o 2- 2” binders for Language Arts and Social Studies.
· Zipper pouch to hold pencils & colored pencils
· A dozen or so unit dividers.
· Pencils (Please keep a supply in your locker at all times. You’ll need to take a pencil to every class)
· Pencil cap erasers
· Extra Lead for mechanical pencils- if your child prefers those types of pencils
· Erasable pens if they chose to write in ink
· 1 ream of white lined paper
· Reinforcers—for the white lined paper holes, should they tear.
· Glue stick
*Suggestion:
· Many students find it helpful to have a narrow, zippered 3-ring binder to keep their zippered pouch with pencils, colored pencils, highlighters, etc. in, to carry with them throughout the day. This is also helpful to students to keep their homework in so that they do not have to carry all of their binders home with them.
· Earbuds to keep in school.
· An agenda book
We highly recommend having the following supplies at home for use on homework:
· colored pencils
· lined paper
· dictionary
· scientific calculator
· protractor/compass/ruler
IF YOU NEED HELP WITH ANY OF THESE MATERIALS PLEASE CONTACT MRS. LAPLANTE OR MR. HUCKINS AND THEY WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP YOU OUT. We often have purchased extra supplies for those students who need them.
In addition, we are always in need of tissues. If you could send in a box, that would be most helpful.
We hope that this is helpful and we look forward to meeting you and working with your child this year.
Please feel free to contact us at anytime if you should have any questions and/or concerns.